Cousins and Snow: The Ultimate Combination
We had a lovely three day visit with my family in Southern Illinois over New Years.
There were cousins galore!
Christmas presents!
My Dad's retirement to celebrate!
Not to mention, my parents' 45th Wedding Anniversary!
It was a busy THREE DAYS!
But to top it all off...it snowed....
not just a skiff, but a real hearty several inches
of packable, sleddable snow.
And it wasn't even very cold!
(Remember we come from Minnesota!)
So of all the celebrations....
this is my favorite set of pictures...
and I WASN'T EVEN THERE!
(My sisters and I were in Walmart, shopping for PARTY food.)
But here are some of the fun shots that I found on my camera
when I got back!
What a fun place for a snowball fight.
This was the first picture of the set.
The cousin in the navy coat is either very brave, or doesn't quite get the concept...but he will soon!
See the snowball....coming right at ya!
Wait a minute...coming right at my camera!
Who was taking these pictures?
Seriously...if that thing has a curve on it...
Every picture of Zach is one with a snowball in hand.
Rapid Fire we call him now.
The smiles!
Well...not everybody I guess...
But make no mistake....
...the sweet little thing in the puffy pink snow gear....
was an assassin!
We like to lovingly describe her as
"relentless."
"Relentless" kind of runs in the family, you see.....
There was even an uncle or two involved,
and of course SOMEBODY has to cry,
(queue Lily...)
or it's just not a snowball fight....
Right?
Hmmmmm.who had the most fun......?
It's hard to say but.....
I have my suspicions....!
Packing a mean snowball is a talent...Minnesotans train for this
at recess from November through April,
the goal being to leave a bruise....
so I feel we had an advantage.
You can even name your snowball
as you're packing it...
"Bruiser, Bloodshed, Bullet"...
are just some common ones.
This post is getting dark....
"Hey! Let's sled!"
Sled in the woods?
Of course!
When you grow up in the woods like we did...
you sled in the woods because the alternative
is ....
NOT SLEDDING....
and that won't do so...
This looks like a good run...only a few
large
trees
to
run
into
head
first.
But before that, you have to cross the creek...
It warms my heart to see my kids in camo.
Did I mention we live in the suburbs?
We don't get to wear camo very often.
As long as there have been vines in this world,
there have been kids swinging on the vines.
This too, I know.
All sizes of kids.....
It's really fun!
And then it's NOT!
Just kidding!
She's belly sledding of course.
We make do....
Oh good...somebody brought a sled.
Works much better!
It was a GREAT afternoon,
and one, I think, my kids will always remember.
I will, anyway....
and I was at Walmart!
